Gas-engine



2 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

H, B. MAXWELL.

GAS ENGINE.

Patented June 1, 1897.

JNvENT 01 jlz'To NEY d.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. B. MAXWELL.

GAS ENGINE.

Patented June 1,1897.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY B. MAXXVELL, OF ROME, NEV YORK.

GAS-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 583,495, dated June 1,1897.

Application filed July 13,1896- Serial No. 598,926. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY B. MAXWELL, of Rome, in the county of Oneidaand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin GaS Engines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters andfigures of reference marked thereon, which form part of thisspecification.

My invention relates particularly to a combined mechanism for operatingthe exhaustvalve of a gas-engine and making and breaking the circuit ofthe spark induction-coil.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a side elevation of agas-engine including my improvements. Figs. 2 shows in enlarged detailfrom side elevation the mechanism constituting my improvements. Fig. 3shows the same mechanism from the left-hand side as shown in Fig. 2.anism as seen from the right-hand side of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 shows detailsof a pair of electriccircuit springs on a plan view. Fig. 6 shows thesame springs on side elevation in connection with the rotarycircuit-closing device in one of its positions of operation. Fig. 7shows the same as Fig. (3 in another position. Fig. 8 shows the same inanother succeeding position. Fig. 9 shows the same in another succeeding position. Fig. 10 is a partial diagram and partial sectional viewshowing the electric circuit employed.

Referring to the reference letters and numbers in a more particulardescription of the device, 1 indicates the base of the engine; 2, themain crank-shaft; 3 3, the fly-wheels; at, the cylinder and jacket; 5,the inlet-valve; G, the outlet exhaust-valve. The exhaustvalve 6 isprovided with an externally-pro jecting stem '7, provided with aflange-like head 7 a and having a spring 7 for holding the valve closed.The valve is opened when the stem 7 is forced upward.

For opening the Valve 6 at every other revolution of the crank-shaft 2the following mechanism is employed: On the crank-shaft is located theeccentric 8, provided with an eccentric-rod 9, operating through thehole or Fig. 4: shows the same mechway in the block 10, secured on thesides to the engine-frame and carrying at its upper end, by means of thefork 11, the shaft 12. On the shaft 12 are secured the ratchet-pinion13, the valve wheel or drum 14, and the rotary circuit-maker 15. On theblock 10 is also secured a spring-pawl 16, the upper end of whichengages with the rod-pinion 1-3. The valve wheel or drum 1% is providedwith a series of projections 1n, which are adapted to successively bebrought into position under the lower end of the valve-stem 7. Therotary circuit-maker 15 is provided with a series of projections 15,which are adapted to suecessively take their positions between the endsof the circuit-springs 17 and 18. These springs are insulated from eachother, as shown in Fig. 5, and are not adapted to engage each other attheir free ends, the circuit being established between them only whenone of the projections 15 occupies a position between the ends of thesprings. These sprin 17 and 18 are secured on the frame or base of theengine 19 as a governor-arm operated by weights on the crank-shaft andadapted to secure the valve 6 in open position.

The circuit-springs 17 and 18 are in circuit with a battery B and aspark induction-coil C, the secondary circuit of which is connected tothe insulated binding-posts 21 an( 22, extending through the head of thecylinder, and adapted to give the spark between their inner ends. Thedetails of this constu-uction, however, are not of much importance, asseveral modifications or variations in the mechanism for producing thespark in the cylinder may be employed.

In this class of engines the explosive mixture is drawn into thecylinder by the first downward movement of the piston, the contents iscompressed with the upward movement, and at the completion of thecompression the explosion takes place, and the power is derived on thesucceeding downward movement of the piston. Vith the next upwardmovement the dead gases are expelled, and with the next downwardmovement a new charge is taken in. The arrangement of my mechanism issuch that in the upward move ment of the eccentric S and the connectingparts the projections 11 on the rotary valvedrum ll will not register orbe in line with the valve stem 7. The valve will not be opened on thisstroke. As the eccentric draws the fork 11 down, however, the spring 10,engaging with the ratchet-wheel 13, operates to give a partial rotationto the shaft 12 and brings one of the proj eetions 1 1 into line withthe valve-stein 7. 011 the next upward stroke one or the other of theprojections 14: strikes the lower end of the valve-stem 7 and opens thevalve 6. This is the stroke at which the exhaust takes place. On theupward movement the spring-pawl 16, being stationary, is retracted overthe face of the ratchet-wheel 13, and on the succeeding downwardmovement a partial rotation is given, which again throws the projectionsout of position.

Vith reference to the rotary circuit-maker 15, in one of its lowpositions one of the proj ections 15 is brought by a rotary movement ofthe wheel 15 and the downward movement of the fork 11 into a positionbetween the free ends of the contact-springs 17 and 18, so as toestablish an electric circuit through the battery 13 and spark-coil 0.During the time that this circuit is established the inductioncoil issufficiently charged. On the upward movement of the eccentric or fork 11the projection 15 is drawn out from between the ends of the springs 17and 18 and the circuit broken. As the fork and the eccentric move downwith the next stroke, the shaft 12 is given a partial rotation, whichbrings the projection into the position shown in Fig. 8, so that whenthe fork is in low position it does not establish an electric connectionbetween the springs 17 and 18.

connection when the fork 11 is in its upper position, as shown in Fig.i); but with the succeeding downward movement the rotary circuit-makeris again brought into the position shown in Fig. 6, where the circuit isestab- Likewise there is no lished. hen the circuit is establishedbetween springs 17 and 1S and the current is on, the piston goes to theupper end of the cylinder and the spark is formed between thebinding-posts 21 and 22.

That I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a gas-engine a rotary circuit-maker having projections, aneccentric for operating the same, a ratchet-wheel connected with thecircuit-maker, a stationary spring-pawl operating in connectiontherewith and springs, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in a gas-engine with the cylinder, shaft andeccentric, of the eccentricrod sliding in a fixed bearing at one end, arotary shaft mounted on the end of the eccentric-rod and carrying arotary valve-drum having projections and a rotary circuit-maker havingprojections both secured 011 the said shaft, an exhaust-valve having astem on which the projections of the rotary valve drum are adapted toengage, circuit-springs with which the projections on the rotarycircuit-maker are adapted to engage, a ratchetwheel secured on the shaftwith the rotary circuit-maker and the valve-drum and a stationary pawloperating on the ratchet, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in a gas-engine of an eccentric and rod, a rotarycircuit-maker having projecting pins mounted thereon, a ratchet-wheelconnected therewith, a stationary spring-pawl operating thereon andcircuit-springs, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

HARRY l3. MAXWELL.

Witnesses:

HENRY O. llIAX\\"ELL, ELLA Wrnnn.

